According to Drew Herdener, spokesperson for Amazon.com, the Seattle based e commerce firm has no plans to introduce a phone in 2013. This was a clarification made based on technology blog Jessicalessin.con last September 6 that the company would be offering a free smartphone.

The clarification was issued through an email. He further added that should Amazon offer a phone in the future, the device would not be for free. 

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the plan, Amazon has been developing a smartphone which would be competing with the iPhone and other devices that utilize the Android operating system. Last year, a person knowledgeable of the matter said that Amazon was working with Foxconn International Holdings Ltd, the mobile phone maker from China. 

Amazon, under the aegis of CEO Jeff Bezos, had been on an acquisition spree of patents on wireless technology to protect itself from allegations of infringement. This was confirmed by other individuals last year.